By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:51, Saturday, 05 January 2013

A drunk postman shouted racial abuse at a woman in a pub, prompting her to slap his face.

Forty-three-year-old Carl Dickinson was in the Turks Head pub in Alston on October 27 when he got into an argument with the woman and shouted and swore at her.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson told Carlisle magistrates’ court how Dickinson, of Hillhouse Lane, Alston, had had a lot to drink. The woman got up and slapped his face, she said, and he pushed her away.

He was asked to leave the pub by members of staff.

In a statement to police, one of the staff said Dickinson could be “vulgar and very noise” when drunk, and he was just being himself.

Defence lawyer Geoff Clapp said Dickinson was a long-term resident of Alston and well known in the town.

“He would like to apologise to the woman concerned but he cannot remember what he actually shouted at her,” he said.

Dickinson who admitted racially aggravated harassment, believed the woman was shouting remarks at an elderly man and he did not like what she was saying. He was very drunk and admitted pushing her away when she went to hit him.

Magistrates fined Dickinson £350 plus costs of £85 and a £35 victim surcharge.

First published at 11:10, Saturday, 05 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk